Branch connecter



March 29, 1927.

R. EC KSTEIN BRANCH CONNECTER Filed April 9,

5 N INVENTOR Q fieahizliaratwz/ v MEDHHL AN MEHUL A TTORAEY Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES REUBEN EGKSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N Y.

Barman CONNECTER.

Application filed April 9,

My invention relates to branch connecters of a kind adapted for use in connecting incandescent lamps in groups, so as to readily enable the entire group to be supplied with electricity, and so that the group as a unit can be readily detached from its connections.

More particularly stated, my invention relates to branch connecters for miniature incandescent lamps of the kind commonly used upon Christmas trees, my special purpose being to enable any person of ordinary intelligence to connect upthe lamps. usually in groups of eight. the lamps of each group being in series with each other; the parts being so arranged and assembled that a single socket or wall plug may be used for supplying current to any reasonable number of such lamps, say for instance eight, sixteen or twenty-four or even more; each group as a whole being readily attached to or detached from some other group.

My invention further comprehends certain improvements in the specific mechanism used for making the connections.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters in dicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram, indicating the manner in which two or more branches, each carrying its quota of lamps, may be readily connected up and disconnected.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary'side elevation of certain parts, used in making and breaking the connections.

igure 3 is an edge elevation, otherwise similar to Fi re 2.

Figure 4 1s a,- cross section through the connecter, and is taken on the line 4.4 of Fi re 6, the conductors being removed.

igure 5 is a section on the line -55 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is an end view of the connecter.

Figure 8 is a view somewhat similar to 6 and taken upon a similar section line, but shows a means of securing the wire differing from that appearing in Figure 6.

A wall socket is shown at 9, and may he of any ordinary construction. A plug 10, having in this instance a substantially 1921. Serial No. 460,086.

hemispherical form, is adapted for engagement with the socket, and for this purpose is provided with a. pair of contact tongues 11, made preferably of spring sheet metal. Threaded through the plug and connected with the tongues 11 are a pair of small cord conductors 12, 13. These are for convenience mounted in the form of a cord conductor 14 of substantially double the size of either cord conductor 12, 13. A number of small sockets 15, each of a size for supporting a miniature incandescent lamp, are

arranged in series with each other. as shown, and carried by the cord conductor 14. A number of lamps 16. equal to the number of sockets 15, are detachably secured to the sockets. In the particular instance here illustrated there are eight sockets and eight lamps to each of the cord conductors 14.

A block 17. made of hard rubber, fiber or any suitable insulating composition. is pro.- vided upon each of its two opposite faces with a channel 18 extending throughout the length of the block, and with a branching channel 19 extending in a lateral direction from the channel 18 to the adjacent edge of the block, the channel 18 with its branch 'a head 24 and carrying a nut 25. These bolts also extend through holes in two plates 26 of insulating material, for the purpose of holding these plates in position upon oppositeiaces of the block 17 as may be understood from Figure 5.

The block 17 is provided with edge por-v tions 27 integralwith it and extending out flush with the adjacent outer surfaces of the plates 26.

The plates 26 are provided with holes 28 serving as sunken openings for the heads and nuts of the bolts 23.

The cord conductors 12, 13 are secured in position by the binding screws 22, as in dicated in Figure 6.

In some instances, for instance as indicated in Figure 8, I connect the cord conduc- -plete article of manufacture.

tors 12, 13 with the clips 20 by means of a dro of solder 29.

T e operation of my device may be readily understood 'in the light of the foregoing description.

Each conducting cord 14 and its accomanying parts including the plug 10 and amp sockets 15, and carrying a block 17 and its accessories, is within itself a com- For convenience, I designate it as a branch connecter. To use it, the plug 10 is tapped on to the socket 9. If the lamps 15 are in position, they will be energized.

Suppose, now, that the number of lamps carried by the branch connecter is less than the number required. To increase the number of the lamps, an additional branch connecter is used, If still more lamps are required, still another branch connector is added.

The manner in which the branch connectors are used together may be understood from Figure 1. Each plug 10 is brought up to the block 17, and the two contact tongues 11 of this plug are thrust into the two clips 20that is. each tongue 11 of the plug is thrust in between a pair of extendlng portions 21 of a clip 20.

While my device may be used to advantage in many different relations, it is specially adapted for service in connection with Christmas trees. It enables any reasonable number of miniature incandescent lamps to be supplied with electric current from a sin le socket.

l t will be noted that no metallic parts through which current can make its escape are so exposed as to cause trouble.

My device is very simple in construction, and any child can 0 crate it. The various parts admit of 0 cap manufacture in quantity, and are easy to standardize.

I do not limit myself to the particular mechanism shown, as variations may be made therein without departing from my invention, which is commensurate with my claim. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

A branch connecter, comprising a block of insulating material provided with a pair of channels each extending, throughout the entire length of the block. said block being further provided with a branching channel extending laterally from each of said first mentioned channels, so that each of said first mentioned channels and the branching channel extending from itform collectively a substantially T-shaped channel, said bloclc of insulating material being further provided with a pair of edge portions extending in opposite directions and each overhanging one of said T-shaped channels, a substantially T-sha ed clip mounted in each of said T-shaped c annels, and a pair of plates of insulating material connected with said block of insulating material and covering said T-shapedchannel, said plates extending out substantially flush with the outer edges of said extending portions of said block.

REUBEN ECKSTEIN.

llli 

